After more than 25 years as a vet, Rob still genuinely loves what he does. Whether it's a challenging surgical case, helping a family navigate a difficult decision, or simply catching up with a long-standing client and their pet, it's the variety of veterinary medicine and the people he meets along the way that keep him enthusiastic about coming to work.

Rob graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2000 and joined Eureka Veterinary Clinic in 2008, becoming a director in 2012. He has a particular passion for small animal surgery, especially orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures, but also enjoys the detective work involved in complex medical cases and finding solutions when things aren't straightforward.

One of the things Rob values most is the relationships he builds with clients. He firmly believes that nobody knows an animal better than its owner, and that listening is just as important as clinical knowledge. He enjoys taking the time to explain things, discuss the options and work together to find a treatment plan that is both medically appropriate and practical for the family.

For Rob, good veterinary care isn't always about doing every test or choosing the most complicated treatment. It's about understanding what matters to people, using experience and good clinical judgement, and finding the best way forward for their pet.

Rob has enormous respect and admiration for the people he works alongside. He firmly believes that great veterinary care is a team effort, made possible by the dedication, skills and compassion of the vets, nurses, receptionists and support staff who contribute every day. As a director of Eureka Veterinary Clinic and Ballarat Veterinary Practice, he also enjoys mentoring younger vets and helping others develop their confidence and skills. Seeing his colleagues grow and succeed is one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking with friends and waterskiing whenever he gets the chance. Staying active is an important part of keeping both physically fit and mentally fresh. At home, he's kept company by his two dogs, Shirley and Maddy, Nelson the donkey, and two alpacas, Graham and Ralph.

After all these years, it's still the simple things that give Rob the most satisfaction — seeing a patient recover, sharing a laugh with a client and knowing he's made a difference.